Friday, August 10, 2007

Killer Taxes

I frequently visit BlueRacine.blogspot.com, a fringe left web site run by a Kay from Burlington. Recently she was lamenting the loss of life caused by Republican attitudes towards taxes that leave people to die due to lack of medical care. So I posed the question as to whether high taxes might also be fatal to some. She seemed never to have contemplated the question.

To her credit, she asked me to elaborate, which I did, in the following manner. High levels of taxation leave us with less money in our pockets, all other things being equal. As such, we may well end up purchasing used tires instead of new, we might forgo an alarm system in our home, we might drive instead of fly. Each of these decisions that we might make because of higher taxes will leave us marginally less safe. Multiply these increased risks by millions of people and certainly some will die as a result of higher taxes. Also, I explained, high taxes decrease the incentive to take financial risks. Why risk millions to develop a life saving medicine if the government will take most of your profits. There is a reason why life saving innovations come from mostly free countries like ours and not Cuba and North Korea. Freedom, including economic freedom, are needed in order to have the mind boggling array of products and services that most of us take for granted. And high taxes rob us of our freedoms as well as the great things that free people can produce. Yes, high taxes are deadly.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see where you're coming from Denis, never really thought about it along those lines either.

What bothers me are people who are always spouting how supportive they are of higher taxes and more money going to different programs, when they don't pay taxes themselves. Kay from blueracine is a good example of that, she doesn't work, but yet is the first publicly supporting higher taxes for the rest of us. People like that have no credibility in my eyes.

smallgovsam said...

Its really beating a dead horse trying to prove how free market policies benefit everyone and how central planning only leads to desolation and despotism. But every time I talk with my peers or a socialist its Night of the Living Dead Horses. (That’s a modified P.J. O’Rourke quote I’m in love with) Too many people don’t want to understand because they are too committed to their sophistry and doctrine of collectivism.

Anonymous said...

Okay...I can't help but comment that there was an anonymous post on this thread...and it doesn't bother ME in the least that it was anyonymous, however the contents of the comment do.

I think everyone has a right to talk about and voice their opinions on taxes and politics.

Anon used Kay from Blue Racine as an example of someone who doesn't work, but, yet, is supporting higher taxes. I don't know if anon's facts are true or not, but I don't think just because she doesn't work (if true) has anything to do with her voicing an opinion.

There are many stay-at-home moms and dads...are they not to voice an opinion on taxes or politics? Do they have no credibility because they choose to stay home and take care of their kids? I think that line of thinking is off...way off.

Anyways...People need to live within their means, and quit expecting free handouts paid for by our taxes.

By Touchy

Anonymous said...

I fully support stay at home moms (or dads) who are not depending on the government to support them, that's a different story. I do have a problem with people currently living on the taxpayers dime telling us we need to pay out more taxes than we already do. As I said, there is no credibility there for me.

Anonymous said...

Okay...I can't help but comment that there are too many anonymous posts on this thread...and it doesn't bother ME in the least that they are anonymous (I just thought I’d bring it up), however the contents of some of the comments do.

I don’t think it’s fair that everyone has a right to talk about and voice their opinions so long as those opinions are only pertaining to taxes and politics. I didn’t know that the first amendment only applied to taxes and politics.

By Touchy

Anonymous said...

Oh, so what you are saying is that Kay is living off the taxpayer's dime and that is what is bothering you about her supporting more taxes? Well, I don't know much about Kay to comment on that specifically, but, yeah, those living off the taxpayer's dime shouldn't tell taxpayers they should be paying more, and more, and more....

By the way....I don't know who is trying to be the smart aleck but that second post by "Touchy" at 12:28pm was not posted by the first "Touchy" who posted at 8:13am. That is not funny...can't you leave well enough alone??

By Touchy (the original and author of the 8:13am comment)

Anonymous said...

Everyone has the right to voice their opinion, but some opinions are more credible than others. The opinions of people who live off the government and have the audacity to tell working people they need to shell out more taxes are worthless. Period.

Anonymous said...

Oh, so what you are saying is that those living off the taxpayer's dime shouldn't be able to voice their opinion....

By the way....I don't know who is trying to be the smart aleck but that second post by "Touchy" at 1:49pm was not posted by the second "Touchy" who posted at 12:28pm. That is not funny...can't I leave well enough alone??

By Touchy (the original and author of the 12:28pm comment)

Anonymous said...

Those that are living off of taxpayers' money should not be telling taxpayers they need to dish out even more of their hard earned money. Sure, non-working peole living off of the government can give their opinion regarding taxes, but who is going to care or listen?

Anonymous said...

No anonymous...I was talking to the other anonymous... So, anonymous are you saying that only working taxpayers that stay at home on their own dime have credible opinions?

By Touchy

Anonymous said...

I'm so confused with all these anonymouses!

Well Touchy, if you get a little more specific on your last statement you'd be correct. It should read: "Only working taxpayers that stay at home on their own dime have credible opinions when those opinions relate to raising taxes."

When a person has no skin in the game, why should they care if taxes are raised? They will still get their taxpayer-funded government check just as always. That is why, people like that have no credibility when they spout off about higher taxes not being a problem. Sure it's not a problem, FOR THEM!

Anonymous said...

So, Anonymous what you are saying to Anonymous is that if they have an opinion about something other than politics, taxes and anonymity, and they are living on the taxpayer dime, but they have an at home business or possibly work from home, then they should only give their opinon anonymously?

By Anonymous (the original)

Anonymous said...

If anyone else would like to humor me (anonymously, of course) feel free.

Anonymous said...

Similarly, all the chicken hawks need to cease and desist with their opinions on whether we should go to war. With no military history of their own and no immediate family member in the fight their credibility on the subject of war is lacking.

Oh, Touchy annon, I'll be annon the 3rd, or is it the 4th? Glad this doesn't bother you, though dare i say you are stubborn on this point. If you would select "Other" under "Choose an Identity" and then write in "Touchy" for your name, it would really go a long towards helping this discussion that has become comical.

Anonymous said...

Oh...so that is how it works! Thanks for the tip, but I don't see the humor in sabotaging Denis' blog.

Anonymous said...

Oh...and one more thing anonymous. Stop posting anonymously.

Anonymous said...

Hey Smart Aleck...I am never up before 6:33am, so that is a dead give away that you are a phoney!

Anonymous said...

But, then again, I just posted my comment and it is 9:44am and it says 7:44, so the clock is off on this blog.

Denis Navratil said...

My apologies dear readers if you have bothered to read the numerous useless posts that have been submitted on this topic. Hopefully anon will get bored and stop clogging up my blog with useless nonsense.